Introduction:

acute pancreatitis is the acute inflammatory process of the pancreas. Its diagnosis is based on clinical, humoral and imaging pillars; ultrasound is very useful as an initial diagnostic method.

Objective:

to determine the value of ultrasound in the initial diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in patients seen at "Arnaldo Milián Castro" Clinical and Surgical University Hospital from October 2018 to June 2019.

Methods:

a descriptive and longitudinal study was carried out in patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis in the Imaging service at "Arnaldo Milián Castro" Clinical and Surgical University Hospital from October 2018 to June 2019. The study universe consisted of 75 patients, from which a non-probabilistic sample of 66 patients was selected with abdominal ultrasound and computerized axial tomography performed.

Results:

male patients aged 50 to 59 years prevailed. Obesity and alcoholism were the most common risk factors for mild and moderate acute pancreatitis, while severe ones were associated with obesity and gallstones. Moderate severity predominated. Irregular contours, heterogeneous texture, hypoechoic gland and diffuse enlargement of the pancreas were the main ultrasound findings. Ultrasound shows a high percentage of sensitivity in the detection of extrapancreatic findings, peripancreatic collections and irregularity of the organ contours.

Conclusions:

ultrasound is a very useful study in the initial diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.